File extensions – definition and basic information


File extensions are the integral parts of the files that are on each computer. Often, when working on a computer, we encounter a wide range of files, such as docx, ppt, part, mp3 or rmvb. We realize that they are there – but we often do not know what they are for on our computer.

File extension, also known as the filename extension is a suffix added to the name of a computer file, usually consisting of a number of characters placed after the last dot in the filename, which gives us information about its coding. In other words a file extension is a file format. It allows the operating system (e.g. Windows) to recognize what program it should try to open the file.

In the table below you will find a random selection of popular file extensions.


File extension The full name of the file Category

ASP file extension

Active Server Page

Web Files

COM file extension

DOS Command File

Executable Files

CRDOWNLOAD file extension

Chrome Partially Downloaded File

Misc Files

CSV file extension

Comma Separated Values File

Data Files

DAT file extension

Data File

Data Files

DDS file extension

DirectDraw Surface

Raster Image Files

DMP file extension

Windows Memory Dump

System Files

GED file extension

GEDCOM Genealogy Data File

Data Files

GPX file extension

GPS Exchange File

GIS Files

GZ file extension

Gnu Zipped Archive

Compressed Files

INI file extension

Windows Initialization File

Settings Files

LNK file extension

Windows File Shortcut

System Files

M4V file extension

iTunes Video File

Video Files

RPM file extension

Red Hat Package Manager File

Compressed Files

VCD file extension

Virtual CD

Disk Image Files